Local Motion | Issue #4

Published: May 19, 2026

👋 A Note from Jason

Four weeks in. Let’s keep it rollin’.

This week: the free Women's Self-Defense Seminar at Running Wild is happening tonight — if you know a woman who runs, walks, or hikes solo, please share this before 6 PM. There's also an indoor pickleball option in Foley worth knowing about, a PickleRage tournament coming Memorial Day weekend, the PhinMan Youth Tri is THIS Monday, and the Grandman is now officially one month away.

Also, the Summer Sizzle Speed Program kicked off last Tuesday at Running Wild. If you were there — nice work. If you missed it — it runs every Tuesday through July 14, so you can still jump in.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

Two things this week — one for the runners, one for the pickleballers.

Runners: The Boston Marathon registration for 2027 opens in mid-September. That sounds far away. It is not. Most marathon training plans are 16–18 weeks, which means if a fall qualifier race is on your radar, you need to be building your base right now. The Summer Sizzle speed program at Running Wild kicked off last week and runs every Tuesday through July 14. If a BQ is the dream — or even just a first marathon finish — the window to build that engine is open. Don't wait until the fall and scramble.

Pickleballers: On May 1st, a private equity firm called Apollo Sports Capital announced a $225 million investment in Pickleball Inc. — the parent company behind the PPA Tour. For context, that is not "we think this is a fun hobby" money. That is "we have done the math and this is a legitimate industry" money. And if you needed one more stat to send to your tennis friends: the average age of a pickleball player has dropped from 41 in 2020 to 34.8 in 2026.

The retirement sport narrative is officially retired. 🏓👑

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Mixed doubles pickleball: the ultimate marriage stress test. Therapists hate it. Divorce attorneys love it. It makes leaving the toilet seat up look like a love language. Tina and I have survived it — because I am so good at apologies.

🆕 Now in the Open Play Rotation — OWA Pickleball

Pickleball at OWA — 200 S OWA Blvd, Foley (worth the drive)

We've known about this one for a while — but a lot of you probably haven't, and it deserves to be in the rotation. OWA in Foley has a full indoor pickleball facility: four climate-controlled courts, lockers, a pro shop, and air conditioning. In Alabama. In May. Take a moment.

It's called Pickleball at OWA, the region's first indoor pickleball center — which, given the number of days per summer when outdoor play feels like competing inside a hair dryer, is not a small thing.

Here's how it works:

And here's our favorite part: every Sunday from 1–5 PM, they run $10 open play — and if you grab brunch at Waffles R Wild beforehand and show your receipt, you get $3 off your admission fee. Pickleball AND waffles. Now that is a Sunday.

🔥 This Weekend

📅 Coming Up — Memorial Day Weekend

PickleRage Ragers Spring Classic — Thu–Sat. May 29–31 · PickleRage, Mobile, AL PickleRage is an indoor pickleball facility in Mobile, which means this tournament happens rain or shine, heat or not — no excuses. National tournament, all skill levels, DUPR event, 50+ age brackets, doubles, mixed doubles. Use discount code TOURNEY15 at registration for a discount to the first 50 registrants. Spots fill up — don't wait.

🗓️ Coming Next Month

Port City Pickleball Summer Break Showdown — Sat–Sun. June 13–14 · W.O. Lott Park, Daphne One of the bigger Eastern Shore pickleball weekends of the summer. Registration is open — don't sleep on it.

📌 Open Play — Every Week

Mike Ford Tennis Center — Stimpson Park, Fairhope Lighted courts, lessons, clinics & socials. Call for open play schedule: 251-990-9526

W.O. Lott Park — Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun 8:00–11:00 AM · Wed/Fri 6:00 PM · Daphne 12 outdoor courts · Free · All levels welcome.

Pickleball at OWA — Sun–Fri 10 AM–7 PM · Sat 8 AM–8 PM · 200 S OWA Blvd, Foley (worth the drive) 4 indoor courts · $10/hr guest pass · $55/mo membership (24/7 access) · Walk-ins welcome.

Know of open play anywhere else on the Shore? Hit reply — we'll add it.

🏃 RUNNING

🔥 Tonight

⚡ Free Women's Self-Defense Seminar — "No Easy Targets" Tue. May 19 · 6:00–7:00 PM · Running Wild, 72 South Section St, Fairhope

We mentioned this one last week and we're saying it again — because it's tonight and it matters.

Most men don't think twice about heading out for a solo run. A lot of women do. Every time. Running Wild is hosting a free safety seminar covering situational awareness, personal safety tools, and practical tips for runners, walkers, and hikers. Expert panel. Giveaways. Free. Tina is going. If you're that woman — or you love that woman — this is the one to show up for.

📅 Ongoing — Every Tuesday

Summer Sizzle 10-Week Speed Program — Every Tuesday · 5:30–6:30 PM · Running Wild, 72 South Section St, Fairhope Kicked off last week and runs through July 14. Speed work, hill intervals, distance work — rotating weekly. If you missed the first session, you can still get in on it. Running Wild has one of the best communities on the Eastern Shore.

🗓️ Coming Next Month

Medal Madness 5K, 10K & Half Marathon — Sat. June 6 · 8:00 AM · Medal of Honor Park, Mobile, AL Three distances, finisher medals, costume contest if you're feeling brave. Good tune-up race if you've got something bigger circled on the fall calendar. No on-site registration — sign up in advance on RunSignup.

📌 Weekly Runs

Thursday Night Group Run — Every Thursday · 6:00 PM · McSharry's Irish Pub, 101 N Bancroft St, Fairhope Run at your own pace, stay for food and good company. The best post-run tradition on the Eastern Shore.

Know of a group run we missed? Hit reply — we'll add it.

🚴 CYCLING

📌 Weekly Rides

Pro Cycle Saturday Morning Ride — Every Saturday · 7:30 AM · Pro Cycle & Tri, Fairhope ~28 miles · All paces welcome. Best shop ride on the Gulf Coast. Show up, clip in, and hang on.

No formal cycling races on the Baldwin County calendar for the next two weeks. Know of a club ride or group event? Hit reply.

🏊 TRIATHLON & MULTI-SPORT

🔥 This Weekend — Memorial Day Monday

PhinMan Youth Triathlon — Mon. May 25 (Memorial Day) · Johnnie Sims Park / Bodenhamer Rec Center, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) This one's for the young athletes in your life — ages 6 to 14. Two formats:

Check-in begins at 7:00 AM. Limited to 150 kids total — lock in a spot now. Nothing better than watching a 7-year-old crush a triathlon on Memorial Day morning. 🙌

🗓️ Coming Next Month

GrandMan: Return of the Grand — Sat. June 20 · 7:00 AM · Fairhope Municipal Park

One month out. This one keeps selling itself.

Jump off the Fairhope Pier into Mobile Bay, swim to shore, run a 5K through downtown Fairhope. Individual, relay, para, Athena/Clydesdale divisions. All proceeds benefit Mobile Baykeeper. We've mentioned this in every issue and we're not stopping — because it's right here, it supports a great cause, and you absolutely have enough time to train for a swim + 5K before June 20.

If you're waiting for a sign: this is it.

🗓️ On the Radar — This Fall

Brett Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon — Sat. September 12 · Gulf Shores West Beach (worth the drive) Olympic and Sprint distances. Swim the Gulf, bike the coast, run the beach. Early registration is open — worth locking in now if a fall tri is on your list.

That's Issue #4. 🎉

Four weeks in, and this community keeps growing. That means you're finding each other — new training partners, people to carpool to races, someone to blame when you signed up for the Grandman. That's the whole point.

If you know of a group ride, open tennis, yoga in the park, or any local fitness event we've missed — hit reply. And if someone in your life needs this in their inbox — a neighbor, a training partner, your pickleball partner who keeps asking "is anything going on this weekend?" — send them to localmotionactive.com to subscribe.

See you on the courts and the roads. 🌅

— Jason (and Tina 🏓)

Local Motion — From the Bay to the Beach.

localmotionactive.com